Post by doomgerbiluk on Mar 2, 2006 13:39:54 GMT -8
So you've seen the cute pictures of pups, followed the progress of other members or just fancy babies around? But are you ready to breed yourself?
1) Why do you want to breed? Are you breeding for show, pets, a particular colour? Every breeder should have an aim.
2) What will you do with the pups? A gerbil mum can produce as many as 10 pups in a litter, she can have a litter every 28 days (usually numbers are less and frequency also, but be prepared). You must be prepared for them to grow up and need homes, with you or elsewhere. If your prospective new owners let you down you may have to keep all the pups yourself. You are fully responsible for all animals in your care.
3) What if it goes wrong? If you can't cope with runts dying, possible illness at weaning etc, or your not prepared to pay vets bills, then don't breed.
4) Who are the parents? Are they healthy? Were they healthy as pups? Are they unrelated? Do they have good temperaments? Are they good 'type'? What colours will you get? (for instance agoutis and white gerbils can be hard to home). Parent gerbils should be carefully selected to optimise the chances of healthy litters
5) Do you have plenty of gerbil experience? Are you confident handling them? Can you 'read' them to tell their moods, whether they're unhappy, sick, stressed? If you are new to gerbils you may find it hard to tell how things are progressing.
If you cannot answer satisfactorily to these questions then quite simply don't breed. Like any fancy, there is always a risk of becoming overrun with unwanted animals. Indiscriminate breeding of any pet is always unwise.
If you feel you do satisfy these requirements, please read, research, make sure you have a sympathetic vet, and feel free to ask advice.
To read more on this subject please refer to this thread.
Ask yourself these questions?
2) What will you do with the pups? A gerbil mum can produce as many as 10 pups in a litter, she can have a litter every 28 days (usually numbers are less and frequency also, but be prepared). You must be prepared for them to grow up and need homes, with you or elsewhere. If your prospective new owners let you down you may have to keep all the pups yourself. You are fully responsible for all animals in your care.
3) What if it goes wrong? If you can't cope with runts dying, possible illness at weaning etc, or your not prepared to pay vets bills, then don't breed.
4) Who are the parents? Are they healthy? Were they healthy as pups? Are they unrelated? Do they have good temperaments? Are they good 'type'? What colours will you get? (for instance agoutis and white gerbils can be hard to home). Parent gerbils should be carefully selected to optimise the chances of healthy litters
5) Do you have plenty of gerbil experience? Are you confident handling them? Can you 'read' them to tell their moods, whether they're unhappy, sick, stressed? If you are new to gerbils you may find it hard to tell how things are progressing.
If you cannot answer satisfactorily to these questions then quite simply don't breed. Like any fancy, there is always a risk of becoming overrun with unwanted animals. Indiscriminate breeding of any pet is always unwise.
If you feel you do satisfy these requirements, please read, research, make sure you have a sympathetic vet, and feel free to ask advice.
To read more on this subject please refer to this thread.
(uh, link 
)
